For many people, the holiday season is about believing in goodness. Whether it is that the world contains the ability to be kind and loving or it be the goodness of Jesus and His coming. The belief in goodness even ranges to strangers helping strangers. It stretches its way into believing for a better tomorrow and to forgiving those who have hurt us.
And I have this thought that the belief in the unseen is the most powerful of all. When it comes to my personal life, I cannot deny how important my faith and relationship with God is to me. All that I am is because of God. All that I have endured and then survived is because of God. All that I have flourished and grown to be is because of God. No matter how hard life became, and boy was it unbearable at times, I always kept my belief that God is real and alive.
My belief in the unseen has been so real and raw to the point that sometimes I cry when I think about God’s love for me. Yes, that is very vulnerable, for me to admit, but I also think its incredibly beautiful that God’s undeniable and unfathomable love wrecks me in this cleansing way.
Tears don’t represent weakness for me. They actually remind me of the ocean, which to me is the best metaphor for God’s love. His love is always present, powerful, and poignant. It’s peaceful like the crashing of the waves against the beach and it always comes back to shore. It’s consistent. And it’s full of life and surprises. The ocean is like a whole other world with all of this life and a lot of it we aren’t even aware of. God’s love has always been a constant in my life.
I’m sharing this with you for two reasons. First, I want everyone to know that everything I am is due to God’s love and strength. Second, I have had so many answered prayers lately. Within the past year, I have finally found my purpose. I struggled with the belief that I was unworthy for so long. So, to believe I had purpose was so beyond me, it was laughable. But I know now with absolutely certainty that I have purpose. It’s grand. It’s so big I cannot even begin to understand the depths of it. My purpose I think comes down to proclaiming God’s strength and love. In different ways, I will always stand by that truth.
The way God plans to reveal this through my life I don’t completely understand yet. But I do know this it isn’t through force, or shoving. It’s through acts of love, meaningful paintings, motivational speeches, inspiring words, and a life well spent. My belief in the unseen is so deep that I am willing to share it with you all. In hopes that you would not be offended or felt any kind of pressure, but that you would feel my love and you would know where it comes from. My hope is that you know I appreciate all of your compliments of how talented I am, but I know where the true gift comes from and who is providing it. My name, Gabrielle, means strength from God, and there is nothing that can describe my life better than that phrase. Belief in the unseen for me goes way deeper than religion. It is the relationship and I believe it’s the most healing relationship I have ever experienced.
One time I encountered an artist, specifically a Christian artist, and he told me you should start painting Jesus and representing God in your artwork. I looked at him right in the eye and said I believe God is represented in every piece and He comes out in whatever way the viewer needs Him to in that moment. I told him God is not only in the painting; he is also with me while I create it. And I truly believe that. My art is a representation of how connection and vulnerability are healing and beautiful. It is all inspired from the most important relationship in my life. The one from whom my strength comes from.
“Primary Intimacy”
At the very beginning, God hand created the primary colors and simultaneously began the love story between life and art. I am filled with joy that I get to be part of that beautiful love story. Creating this painting came easily to me, it was as if the painting swam right out of my soul and onto the canvas. For that reason, I will forever have a deep special love for this one.